A gas and diesel power plant slated for rural Tantramar has gained approval from the New Brunswick Environment Department, albeit with certain conditions. Minister Gilles LePage disclosed the decision, emphasizing reliance on insights from a technical review committee representing federal, provincial, and local entities.
The American company behind the project, ProEnergy, recognized the regulatory green light but refrained from further comments until all permitting and regulatory obligations are fulfilled. The plan entails installing 10 revamped jet-engine turbines in Centre Village to potentially generate up to 500 megawatts of electricity promptly.
N.B. Power is leading the initiative, having inked a 25-year pact with ProEnergy for the plant’s construction and operation in southeastern New Brunswick. The approval mandates compliance with 45 conditions, including drafting an emergency management strategy with local authorities and conducting regular air and water-quality monitoring.
Additionally, public updates on project advancements and information sharing with Elsipogtog First Nation regarding ecological impacts are prerequisites. The plant faced community concerns upon its announcement in July 2025, particularly regarding water resource usage, discharge from the water-treatment system, air quality, and ecosystem disturbances.
Alterations were made to the water-management plans during the environmental impact assessment, such as transporting water-treatment byproducts off-site instead of releasing them locally. The plant’s turbines are planned to function primarily as synchronous condensers, aiding in grid stability without direct power generation.
The Department of Environment’s conditions stipulate restrictions on fuel burning and mandate reporting on operational hours as a synchronous condenser or fuel burner. ProEnergy commits to utilizing natural gas from the Maritimes and Northeast pipeline, with on-site diesel fuel serving as a backup, subject to department notification when diesel is burned.
Despite the approval, the Conservation Council of New Brunswick, led by Beverly Gingras, expressed disappointment and concerns about environmental and climate impacts. Concurrently, Mi’gmawe’l Tplu’taqnn Inc. is conducting an assessment for New Brunswick Mi’kmaq nations, while local opposition, represented by MLA Megan Mitton, vows to persist in challenging the project.
The Energy and Utilities Board’s endorsement of N.B. Power’s gas plant deal, citing potential power shortages without the project and costliness of alternative storage solutions, has faced legal opposition. The project’s estimated cost to N.B. Power exceeds $3.5 billion over the contract term, although specific financial details remain undisclosed.
